Celtics coach Doc Rivers once again is satisfied with his engine.

“The ball movement, the simplicity of it, is really important, and that’s with Rondo handling the ball, but it’s also with everyone touching the ball and moving the ball,” he said. “I just like the fact in the last two games that it was simple and it was nice.”

The Celtics might still be playing New York, for example, if not for the return of Allen’s jump shot. Perhaps the ultimate sign of the C’s overall efficiency: Each of the Big Four led the team in scoring in the first round.

Allen wasn’t as gun shy when asked about turning that corner.

“I believe we turned a corner,” he said. “If the ball wasn’t moving for any one of us, it would be stagnant. On any team in this league, if you don’t share the wealth, it’s going to be tough on you.

“From a defensive standpoint, we want teams to hold the ball so we can load up on them and force them to make the play they’re not used to making. Teams do that to us and we play into their hands, but when we move the ball, I love that. If I don’t shoot it in the corner, when we move the ball I can see that everyone is touching it. If I’m shooting the ball, then that means that everyone is moving it.”